Time measuring device for sports

ABSTRACT

1,023,254. Timing races. DAINI SEIKOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Aug. 4, 1964 [July 17, 1963], No. 30518/64. Heading G1J. In a system for timing races an electrical start signal causes an electronic counter to begin counting regularly spaced electrical time signals, lap and/or course completion signals for each competitor cause an electronic memory to store the number of time signals counted at the moment of arrival of each completion signal and a printing device records the stores times. A clock synchronized with the time signals may be provided to display to spectators the time elapsed since the start of the race and it may be temporarily stopped at the completion of the first lap and/or of the course. The number of laps completed by each competitor may be detected and stored in the memory for printing with the stored times. The start signal may be provided by an audio, visual or mechanical device responsive to the sound or movement of the starting pistol. The time signals may be spaced by hundredths or thousandths of a second.

April 21., 19.70

MASATOSHI TO-YAMA ET L I TIME MEASURING DEVICE FOR SPORTS l8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1967 A mmM 0 E T M N NWA R E vv. 0 mMw A sumo s r I BY KAZUO no April 21, 1970 Filed June 22. 1967 18 Sheets-Sheet 5 START SIGNAL FOR WAVEFQRM CONTROL UN|T.4 I cIRcuIT v0 START START SIGNAL FOR CLOCK I2 5 SAFETY WAVEFORM cIRcuIT cIRcuIT I START SIGNAL FOR PHOTO-FINISH 22c I EQUIPMENT l3 WAVEFORM clRcuIT LAP/GOAL LAP/GOAL SIGN L SIGNALS 238 FOR CONTROL uNIT 4 GEO- WAVEFORM I =06} cIRcuIT cIRcuIT K I w g 2am I M WAVEFORM R =0 6 cIRcuIT I 24 BUFFER cIRcuIT I I LAP SIGNAL FOR 25 as 27 CLOCK Iz MIXER CIRCUIT SWITCH CIRCUIT WAVEFORM L F clRcuIT I EINKISIND I I 26 27 DISPLAY UNIT SwITcI-I cI cuIT WAVEFORM .o

. CIRCUIT 28 29 RESET SIGNAL FOR WHOLE DEvIcE RESET SWITCH WAVEFORM I =0 R CIRCUIT INVENTORS SCANNING UNIT MASATOSHI' TOYAMA SHIRO SUGIYAMA BY' KAZUO ITO ATTORNEYS April 21, 1970 MAsA'TosHl TOYAMA ET AL 3508;034

TIME MEASUR'ING DEVICE FOR SPORTS Filed June 22. 1967 18 Sheets-Sheet 5 MONOSTABLE J1 v SWITCH CIRCUITS as AND 26 "L 5c SWITCH cmcun WAVEFORM cmcun 215 IL 22 2/ i i? T y l -"Afi L (SWITCH cmcun WAVEFORM CIRCUIT 2 I I i J- 4 E L INVENTORS MASATOSHI TOYAMA SHIRO SUGIYAMA By KAZUO no ATTORNEY April 21,1970 MASATdSHI TOYAMA ET 3,503,034

TIME MEASURING DEVICE FOR SPORTS Filed June 22, 1967 18 Sheets-Sheet 6' 3| START/SIGNAL TIME SIGNALS S a MK) TI GATE cmcun TIME SIGNALS LAP/GOAL SIGNALS LAP/GOAL SIGNALS IN"NONCOUIBSE" G aO*-'- Go I LAP/GOAL SIGNALS db 3 m counszj SPORTS Ga SELECTING 0 Gb CIRCUIT GI u *4 0i CONTROL UNIT 4| 42 43 TlME OSCILLATOR FREQUENCY DIVIDER SIGNAL CONVERSION CIRCUIT CIRCUIT CIRCUIT INVENTORS QUARTZ OSCILLATOR umr. MA ATOSHI TOYAMA sumo SUGIYAMA FIG 4 BY KAZUO no 4 MIAQM ATTORNEYS April 9 0 MASATOSHI TOYAMA ET AL 3,508,034

TIME MEASURING DEVICE FOR SPORTS- ATTORNEYS TIME MEASURING DEVICE FOR SPORTS File d June 22, 1967 8 Sheecs-Sheet 9 IN VEN TORS MASATOSHI TOYAMA SHIRO SUGIYAMA BY KAZUO no ATTORNEY April 21, 1970 MASATQSHI TOYAMA' ET AL 3,508,034

TIME MEASURING DEVICE FOR SPORTS Filed June 22, 1967 18 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTORS MASATOSHI TOYAMA SHIRO SUGIYAMA KAZUO ITO ATTORNEYS AprilZl,1970 MASATOSHI TOYAMA ETAL 3,503,034

TIME MEASURING DEVICE FOR SPORTS Filed June 22. 196'? 18 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTORS FIG 74 Y MASATOSHI TOYAMA SHIRO SUGIYAMA BY KAZUO ITO ATTORNEYS April 21, 1970 MA$ATo$H| TOYAMA ET/XL I 3,508,034

TIME MEASURING DEVICE FOR SPORTS Filed June 22. 1967 '18 ShetS-ShGet 14 IN V EN TORS MASATOSH FIG. SHIRO SUCilYa M i BY KAZUO ITO ATTORNEYS April 21, 1970 s -rosm TOY'AMA ET AL 3,508,034

TIME MEASURING DEVICE FOR SPORTS Filed June 22. 1967 l3 Sheets-Sheet l 5 5/0 AND GATE INVENTORS MASATOSHI TOYAMA SHIRO SUGIYAMA BY KAZUO ITO AT TORNEYS .Filed June 22. .1967

April 21, 1 MASATOSHI TOYAMA ETAL 3,508,034

TIME MEASURING DEVICE FOR SPORTS l8 Sheets-Sheet l 6 NHIBI [GATE T cou-r CIRCUIT CIRCUIT 8 C ONTROL.

I 83 EXT/NGUISH CIRCUIT INVENTORS MASATOSHI TOYA MA SHIRO SUGIYAMA BY KAZUO ITO ,1 ATTORNEYS April 1970 MASATOSHI TOYAMA ET AL 3,508,034

V TIME MEASURING'DEVICE FOR'SPORI'S 18 Sheets-Sheet 17 Filed June 22. 1967 INVENTORS MASATOSHI TOYAMA SHIRO SUGIYAMA KAZUO ITO ATTORNEYS United States Patent O Us. Cl. 235-92 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electronic time measuring system for sports events has a quartz crystal oscillator for generating standard clock signals and an electronic counter for counting the time interval which elapses from the application thereto of a start signal. There is further provided a memory unit for storing the counting results for the various events and the order of arrival thereof, and a printing unit for printing out in the order of arrival, the results stored in the memory unit. There is further provided a control unit for selecting the mode of timing in accordance with the character of the sports event and a scanning unit for converting the start and stop signals for the various sports events as well as the standard time signal into the appropriate waveform for transmission to the control unit. The electronic time measuring system iscontemplated for use in conjunction with an electric clock which is synchronized with the start and stop signals in order to provide a visual indication of the elapse time since the start of the event including means for transmitting such signals to the clock from the scanning unit in order to temporarily stop the clock at the termination of the event, and to reset the clock for the next event.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This is a continuation-in-part application of our application for a Time Measuring Device for Sports, Ser. No. 378,558, filed June 29, 1964 and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a time measuring system for sports events and more particularlyto a high precision and high efliciency time measuring apparatus for timing, memorizing, displaying and printing the respective times of occurrence of the various time significant events occurring during the course of a sports event.

In presently used electronic time measuring devices for sports events,- the standard time signal is converted into rotational motion by means of a synchronous motor. In such devices, the mechanical counter is triggered by a Start Signal and output of the mechanical counter is printed on recording paper for display. Often, in such presently used timing devices a separate electronic counting device is provided for each standard time signal to be counted. Furthermore, in such presently used timing devices, inaccuracies are introduced due to the finite time delay in activating the mechanical counter after the initial starting signal, together with a further time error due to the inertia of the printing hammer when it is activated by the counting apparatus.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above inaccuracies in the presently used sports timing devices by providing a sports timing system having a high degree of accuracy and stability and is operative to display and print out the respective times of the time significant events occurring during the course of a sports event.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, there is provided a quartz crystal oscillator for generating standard clock signals, and an electronic counter for counting the time elapsed from the application thereto of a Start Signal, a memory unit for storing the counting results for various events and the order of arrival thereof, a printing unit for printing out in order of arrival, the results stored in the memory unit, a control unit for selecting the mode of timing in accordance with the character of the sports event, and a scanning unit for converting the start and stop signals for the various sports events as well as the standard time signal into appropriate waveforms for transmission to the control unit.

-The apparatus of the present invention is contemplated for use with an electric clock which is synchronized with the start and stop signals, to provide a visual indication of the elapsed time since the start of the event and means for transmitting such signals to the clock from the scanning unit in order to temporarily stop the clock at the termination of the event, and to reset the clock for the next event. As hereinafter described the apparatus of the present invention is particularly suitable for use with photo-finish equipment.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention described herein is particularly suitable for use with an audio or mechanical device to indicate the start or stop of an event such as a starting pistol for providing the Start Signal, and a photo electric device for providing the Stop Signal for the sports event being timed.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and features thereof can best be understood with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall arrangement of the preferred embodiment of a time measuring system for sports events in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 4

FIG. 1A depicts in partial sectional view a starting pistol suitable for use with the timing system of the present invention.

FIG. 1B depicts in sectional view a grip switch suitable for use with the timing system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the scanning unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 2A-1, 2B and 2A-2 are schematic circuits of the scanning unit of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of the control unit shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the clock signal generator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of the clock signal generator shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the counting unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the counting unit shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the memory control unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6A-l, 6A-2, 6B and 6C are schematic circuits of the memory control unit shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the memory unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7A is a schematic circuit of the memory unit shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the printing control unit and printing unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 8A-l, 8A-2, SB-l, 8B2, and 8C are schematic circuits of the printing control unit and printing unit shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9A is a schematic circuit of the display unit shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and FIG. 1 in particular, generator 1 is operative to provide the Starting Signal, and may comprise a starter pistol having electrical contacts to provide an electrical signal when the pistol is fired at the start of the event. Generator 2 may suitably comprise a photo-electric cell, or grip switch, for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the completion of a lap or termination of a particular sports event. Scanning unit 3 is operative to select the signal output of either generator 1 or generator 2, and to transmit said selected signal to control unit 4. The output of scanning unit 3 which transforms the signals applied thereto by generators 1 and 2 into suitable waveform for other components of the system, may be suitably connected to a time clock 12 to indicate the time of the event to the event to the assembled spectators, to photo-finish equip ment 13 which photographs the termination of the sports event, and to display unit 11 for printing out the results of the particular sports event.

Counting unit 6 is operative to count the time interval between the Start and Stop Signals provided by control unit 4 and to feed information as to the times of various events to memory unit 8 for storage. Such information is stored in order of arrival and may suitably include information. identifying the particular sports event being timed. Printing control unit 9 is operative to select particular stored information in memory unit 8 and to transmit such information to printing unit 10 for printing out. Oscillator acts as a time reference standard and is operative to produce clock pulses for control unit 4, and to drive clock 12 which is to be viewed by the spectators.

Referring to FIG. 2, scanning unit 3 is shown in more detail, as comprising a safety circuit 21, and wave form shaping circuits 22a, 22b and 220 for providing suitably shaped output electrical signal, in response to the signals applied thereto by generator 1 and waveform shaping circuits 23a to 231' which upon the input thereto of the lap or goal signal from generator 2, provides suitable electrical signals for the various lap or goal times. Safety circuit 21 is operative to eliminate background noise or chattering which may possibly be caused by the contacts connected to the starter pistol, and which may otherwise be transmitted as a false signal. The output signals of circuits 22a to 220, S,,', S and S respectively, are transmitted to control unit 4, clock 12 and photo-finish equipment 13.

Scanning unit 3 further includes waveform shaping circuits 23a to 23i which upon the application thereto of signals G,', to G, from generator 2 are operative to provide and to generate signals G, to G, for control unit 4. Photo electric devices maybe suitably positioned on the lap line in a track race, or the goal line as the case may be to provide the respective lap and goalsignals G to G1.

The output signals G, to G, from waveform circuits 23a to 23i, in addition to being fed to control unit 4, are also applied to a buffer circuit 24, the output of which is fed to mixer circuit 25, and thence to switch circuits 26 and 26' whose output is fed to waveform circuits 27 and 27', for'application to spectator clock 12 and display unit 11 respectively. The lap signal, L, provided by waveform circuit 27 is applied directly to spectatorclock 12 and is operative to make the second hand of clock 12 to stop at the instant of application of the lap signal L, thereto. The goal signal G provided by waveform circuit 27', is applied directly to the spectators clock 12 and display unit 11, thereby causing the second hand of clock 12 to stop, and unit 11 to di play t med result. A reset switch 28 is provided to reset the timing circuitry back to its initial position, after the completion of an event. The reset signal R, provided by reset switch 28, is applied to waveform circuit 29, the output of which is applied to safety circuit 21, control unit 4, spectator clock 12, and the photo finish equipment 13 thereby resetting the complete system.

Buffer circuit 24 is operative to prevent the mutual interference of the lap and goal signals G, in the following manner. Input lap and goal signals G G 6,, from each input terminal are applied to waveform shaping currents 23a, 23b 231' at input terminals 100, 102 and 104 respectively. As shown in FIG. 2A, input signals G, are positive rectangular pulses and output signals G are negative spikes.

Waveform circuits 23a, 23b 231 are essentially similar, and hence only circuit 23a will be described herein.

Input signal G is applied into the emitter 106 of transistor 108 by means of input resistor 110. Input capacitor 112 is connected between input terminal and positive supply line 114 with input capacitor 116 being connected between emitter 106 and supply line 114. Base 118 which is connected to supply line 114 through resistor 120, with resistor 122 being connected between base 118 and negative supply lead 124. The output of transistor 108 is taken at collector 126 and is applied to the input of first H amplifier transistor 128 at base 130, which is connected to negative supply lead 124 through resistor 132. The output of transistor 128 at collector 134, is applied to the input of second stage transistor 136 at its base 138, through the parallel arrangement of coupling resistor 140 and coupling capacitor 142, with base 138 being connected to positive supply lead 114 through input transistor 144. Both emitters 146 and 148 are connected together through common emitter transistor 150 having its other end connected to positive supply lead 114.

The output of transistor 136 at collector 152 is shown by waveform 154, which is applied to bistable multivibrator 156 by means of coupling capacitor 158 in series with diode 160 which has its cathode connected to the collector 162 of switching transistor 164. The output of bistable multivi-brator circuit 156 is provided at collector 166 of switching transistor 168. A 1 kilocycle clock signal is provided from oscillator 5 by means of leads 170, 172, 174, capacitor 176 in series with diode 178 which has its cathode connected to collector 166, to output waveform 180 provided at collector 166, is differentiated by means of capacitor 182 and resistor 184 which is connected to positive supply lead 114 the positive spike representing the leading edge of waveform 180 is shunted to positive supply lead 114, by means of diode 186, thereby leaving a negative going spike shown bywaveform 188 which constitutes output signal G,,'.

The signals G,,, G,,' G, are applied to buffer circuit 24 by means of leads 190, 192 and 194 respectively. Buffer circuit 24 comprises a diode 196 havingits cathode connected to input lead 190, and its anode connected to resistor 198, for each input signal G G G The output of buffer circuit at 24 is a series of negative going spikes as shown by waveform 196 which is applied to mixer circuit 25 by coupling capacitor 198 which is connected between the conjunction of the anodes of output diodes 200, 202 and 204, and resistor 206, and base input 208 of transistor 210. The signals G G G, are transmitted through buffer circuit 24, which is operative to pass signals in one direction only, by virtue of e.g. diodes 196 and 200, thereby preventing there mutual interference of each lap signal or goal signal 6,, G G,, with the mixer circuit being operative to receive these signals and to transmit them into switch circuits 26 and 26.

The operation of switch circuit 26 and waveform circuit 27 (which is analogist to switch circuit 26 and waveform circuit 27') may be better understood by reference to the partial block diagram of FIG. 2B in conjunction with the, 

